Ceramics

The ceramics program encourages students to actively participate in their education through the development of analytical and critical thought processes and the challenge of existing assumptions. Students at the basic and intermediate levels receive instruction on such traditional techniques as coil building, slab building and wheel throwing within the context of both historical and contemporary attitudes in ceramics. We help students negotiate the limits of clay in its different forms, including terra cotta, stoneware and porcelain, as well as through a variety of firing techniques, such as wood firing, raku and salt firing. From this foundation our students may advance to more independent levels of investigation within the medium.

CURRICULUM: Bachelor of fine arts WITH AN EMPHASIS IN Ceramics (B.F.A.)

Basic studies requirement—12 credits

1040 Object Drawing*

1050 Drawing Studio*

1070 Form and Surface*

1080 Form and Space*

*Prerequisites for all studio art and art education majors and minors

Writing—3 credits

3250 Writing About Art

Art history—12 credits

2200 History of Art

2210 History of Art

Art history elective 3000-4000 level

Art history elective 3000-4000 level

Ceramics emphasis requirement—21 credits

2300 Ceramics I

3300 Ceramics II

5300 Ceramics Workshop (15 hrs.)

Art studio electives—34 credits

Three hours of non-western art history may be applied to the elective requirement.

Graduation presentation—3 credits

4930 Graduation Preparation

Summary of Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in ceramics

Art Major—85 credits

General Education—37 credits

Total Credit Hours—122 credits

Students should consult the WMU catalog for the ceramics program course descriptions and requirements.

Portfolio reviews

Faculty

Facilities

The ceramics program has modern up to date facilities for all levels of study. The approximately 8,000 square foot facilities is divided into several areas including: a wheel area, hand-building area, glaze lab area, clay mixing area, mold-making area and slip-casting area.

Wheels

20 Shimpo "Whisper" electric wheels

Indoor kilns

Three computer-fired Shimpo electric kilns

100 cubic feet gas fired stoneware car kiln

250 cubic feet gas fired stoneware car kiln

32 cubic feet catenary arch gas fired stoneware kiln

Outdoor kilns

300 cubic feet wood-fired barrel-arched anagama kiln

100 cubic feet gas-fired sprung arch salt kiln

Six cubic feet gas-fired drum/cantilevered raku kiln

40 cubic feet B.F.A. gas fired updraft stoneware kiln

Select equipment

Forklift (shared with sculpture)

Two Brent slab-rollers

Laguna spray booth

Eight O'Haus gram scales

Soldner mixer

80 quart dough mixer

Bluebird Pugmill

Student Group

The goal of the Ceramics Guild at Western Michigan University is to provide a supportive environment to raise student's knowledge and appreciation for ceramic art, as well as interact with the local and national ceramics community.